Single conveyor system for bobbins about a textile apparatus

ABSTRACT

The instant invention is related to a single conveyor system for carrying bobbins about a spinning machine wherein the conveyor system is capable of handling both empty bobbins and bobbins wound with a strand of yarn and the like and of sorting the wound bobbins doffed from the machine from empty bobbins being supplied to spindles upon the machine for winding.

D United States Patent [191 [111 B 3,913,743

Nelson Oct. 21, 1975 [54] SINGLE CONVEYOR SYSTEM FOR 3,207,307 9/1965 Means 209/74 R BOBBINS ABOUT A TEXTILE APPARATUS 3,387,703 6/1968 Foster 209/73 3,563,376 2/l97l Zegna 209/73 [75] Inventor: John Nelson, North Kmgs wn, R.I. 3,606,012 9/1971 Brouwer 209/82 X [73] Assignee: Leesona Corporation, Warwick, R.I.

Primary Examiner-Allen N. Knowles [22] Flled Sept 1973 Attorney, Agent, or FirmBurnett W. Norton; Robert [21] Appl. No.: 398,597 J. Doherty [44] Published under the Trial Voluntary Protest Program on January 28, 1975 as document no. [57] ABSTRACT B 398,597.

. v The instant mventlon 1s related to a smgle conveyor 52 us. (:1 209/73- 209 74- 209 90 System Carrying bobbins Spinning machine 51 Int. 01. B0 7B 1/15 wherein the System is Capable Of handling, [58] Field of Search 209/82 73 74 90 both empty bobbins and bobbins with a Strand of yarn and the like and of sorting the wound bobbins [56] References Cited doffed from themachine from empty bobbins being UNITED- STATES PATENTS supplied to spindles upon the machine for winding.

3,195,298 7/1965 Furst 209/90 X 11 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 32 B 28 2 1 A "F/ l db: m-llllllllll l l US. Patent Oct.21, 1975 Sheet10f2 3,913,743

FIG.4

SINGLE CONVEYOR SYSTEM FOR BOBBINS ABOUT A TEXTILE APPARATUS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION with a single conveyor capable of handling both empty and wound bobbins. It is therefore highly advantageous to provide such a conveyor system having but a single conveyor about the machine which is capable of handling these bobbins.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The instant invention is therefore directed to a conveyor for conveying both empty bobbins and bobbins wound with a strand of yarn. The single conveyor includes means for spacing of wound bobbins being doffed onto a conveyor from incoming empty bobbins and of downstream means for sorting the wound bobbins from empty bobbins being circulated about the machine to stations requiring the empty bobbins.

The instant invention also relates to a method of delivering empty bobbins and removing wound bobbins by employing a single conveyor about, for example, a spinning machine, which includes the spacing of the wound bobbins from empty bobbins and of sorting of these bobbins.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is therefore a principle object of the present invention to provide a single conveyor about a textile machine including a mechanism for diverting the wound bobbins from the conveyor about the machine while circulating empty bobbins to stations upon the machine for winding of yarn thereon.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of concurrently conveying empty bobbins to stations upon a textile machine for winding of yarn thereon while conveying away doffed wound bobbins from the stations upon the machine and of sorting the wound bobbins from the empty bobbins.

. DESCRIPTION OF TI-IEDRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan schematic view of the bobbin conveying mechanism of the instant invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale of a switch mounted on a-crank arm and associated with the sorting mechanism showing a wound bobbin engaging the switch butt end first taken along lines 2-2 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view on an enlarged scale of the switch of FIG. 2 showing an empty bobbin engag ing the crank arm of FIG. 2 apical end first.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the bobbin stop and the bobbin guide mechanism of the instant invention and showing the mechanism in a retracted position in phantom; and i FIG. 5 isa top plan view of the bobbin stop and bobbin guide mechanism of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring firstly to FIG. 1 a single conveyor 10 is positioned about a spinning machine M having opposing banks of spinning stations S and a tender T for patrolling movement about the machine to service the sta-' tions. Incoming empty bobbins B for supplying the winding stations of such a spinning machine are shown upon the conveyor 10 and are introduced to travel about the machine apical end first as shown by the arrow 12. At the travelling end of the machine, i.e., wherein incoming bobbins have made essentially a complete loop about the machine, an auxiliary conveyor 14 is operatively positioned with respect to conveyor 10 so as to convey full bobbins away from conveyor 10 to a hopper 16. A limit switch 18 is positioned to the frame F-of the conveyor 10 upstream from the auxiliary conveyor 14 at least the length of a bobbin so as to intercept a wound bobbin B being conveyed away from the stations of the machine but which allows an incoming empty bobbin to pass without contacting of the switch. A vertical deflector plate 20 ispivotally journalled about a shaft 22 which is fixed to the frame I F of the conveyor 10 so that the deflector plate is pivotal from an open or retracted position-to a blocking 7 position of the conveyor 10 as shown by the arrow 24.

A double acting air piston 26, having-a piston-rod 28 slideable therein, is suitably mounted to the frame F of the conveyor 10 and is pivotally secured to the end of the deflector plate 20. The deflector plate 20 is in turn journalled about the shaft 22, so that, when the piston 26 is actuated by a signal produced when the butt end of a wound bobbin engages the limit switch 18, the piston rod 28 is extended to pivot the deflector plate to the blocking position, which is also a deflecting position, and deflect the wound bobbin onto the auxiliary conveyor 14 and then to the hopper 16.

Positioned on the auxiliary conveyor and at least the length of a bobbin from the conveyor 10 and so as to intercept the wound bobbin diverted from the conveyor 10 is a limit switch 30, which, when contacted by the bobbin, reversably actuates piston 26 to retract the rod 28 and move the deflector plate to-the open or retracted position to open the conveyor 10.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3 the configuration of the limit switch 18 will nowbe discussed. As is seen the limit switch 18 is carried on a crank arm 32 which is rotatably attached to the conveyor frame F by means of a pin34. The crank arm and the switch are positioned so that the butt end of a wound bobbin engages the limit switch 18 as the wound bobbin is carried upon the conveyor 10 which pivots the crank arm upwards, as shown by the arrow 36, to override the bobbin with the switch 18 actuating the piston 26 .to move the deflector gate from the open to the blocking position thereby and deflecting the wound bobbin, as aforementioned.

Following engagement of the butt end of a wound bobbin with the switch 18 and the diverting of the bobbin onto the auxiliary conveyor 14, the wound bobbin the conveyor 10.

The smaller or apical end of an empty bobbin, how ever, which is introduced to circulate about the machine apical end first by any suitable means, is not of sufficient diameter to engage the switch 18 but rather merely engages the lower portion 36 of the crank arm which causes the crank arm to rotate upward and over- .ride the bobbin as shown by the arrow 38., In this fashion as the butt end of the bobbin passes under the crank arm the switch 18 is held out of engagement from the butt end, thus allowing the bobbin to pass by the auxiliary conveyor 14 without actuating the piston 26 and thereby closing of the gate to the blocking position.

deflector gate would normally be stationed in the blocking position and then a signal produced to open the gate by engagement of the switch 18 by the apical end of an empty bobbin. The switch 30 would suitably be positioned downstream from the deflector gate 20 and on the conveyor for engagement with an empty bobbin to pioduce a signal and return the deflector gate tothe blocking position.

Since, in the instant invention, both wound bobbins and empty bobbins are being simultaneously carried about the machine upon a single conveyor, a device is required which will insure that a doffed bobbin is aligned upon the conveyor 10 butt end first, should incoming empty bobbins be oriented apical end first in their direction or travel, and vice versa. This is to insure that the doffed wound bobbin does not fall upon a circulating empty bobbin which may result in jamming of the bobbins or the carrying of them in, for example, a side by side relationship to the limit switch l8.

An appropriate typeof. device which is positioned two spaced apart guide members 42 and 44 fixedly secured together by means of a shaft 46 and snap rings 48 and 50 about the shaft and adjacent the outside surface of the members 42 and 44, respectively. The shaft 46 is in turn rotatably journalled to brackets 52 and 54 which are fixed to the frame F of the tender T in any suitable fashion, such as with a bolt 56 and a nut 58, and a bolt 60 and nut, not shown, respectively, with the shaft having a portion 62 extending outwardly from member 42. A bobbin ramp member 70 is positioned on the top of the guide members 42 and 44 and is rotatable secured tothe upper portions of the members, as shown, by means of downwardly extending tabs 72 and 74 journalled intermediate the members 42 and 44 about a rod 76 fixed to the guide members 42 and 44- A guide 78 having an outwardly extending tab 79 is positioned intermediate the guide members 42 and 44 and the frame F and is rotatable with respect to the members 42 and 44 by means of a shaft 80 fixed to the member 44 and rotatably journalled to the guide 78, as more clearly shown in FIG. 5. The guide 78 includes an arcuate shaped slot 82, shown in FIG. 5, which slideably engages a guide pin 84 fixed to the frame F of the tender T Referring now specifically to FIG. 5 it is seen that extending downwardly and spaced apart from theguide 78 is a bobbin stop 86 which is rotatably journalled to the guide by means of a pin 88.-A spring 90 is positioned about the pin 88 and intermediate the guide and:

the bobbin stop 86 so that if, when the bobbin stop is lowered, the bobbin stop engagesa passing bobbinbeneath it upon thecontinuously moving conveyor the bobbin stop will resiliently ride over the bobbin and then be urged into a blocking position after the bobbin passes to stop a succeeding bobbin while the conveyor. slides beneath it.

Reference being made again to both FIGS. 4 and .5 the mechanism associated with the operation of the above described apparatus will now bediscussed. A i

double acting air piston 100, having a piston rod 102 slideably therein, is vertically mounted to a bracket 103 by means of a bolt 104 with the bracket mounted to the frame member F of the tender T by means of. bolts 105 and 106, shown in FIG. 5. The end of the piston rod is threaded into a boss 107 and secured thereto by a nut 108. The boss in turn is rotatably connected to a link 109 by means of a pin 1 10 and the link is in turn fixedly secured about the end of the shaft 46 by means of a cap 1 12 so that as the piston isactuated the bobbin stop 86, the guide 78, and ramp 40 are raised and lowered. A

limit switch 114 is mounted on the frame and posi- A tioned so as to be engaged by the tab 79 when the ramp 40 and the bobbin stop 86 are lowered in response to actuation of the piston and retraction of the rod In operation the ramp 40 and the bobbin stop 86 are in the retracted position, as shown in phantom in FIG.

4, until a full bobbin has been automatically doffed from a spindle. At this time a demand signal actuates the double acting piston 100, which is connected with a fourwway valve and a source of compressed air, not

shown, to extend the piston rod 102 and thereby rotate the shaft ,46 clockwise and lowerxthe ramp 40 and the bobbin stop 86. As the ramp 40 is lowered to its full downward position, along with the bobbin stop 86, the

tab 79 engages the limit switch 114. When engaged the switch 114 signals the upstream doffing apparatus,

which has doffed the bobbin and is not shown, to drop 1 I the bobbin to the ramp40 butt or apical end first as bobbin stop 86 stops upstream incoming bobbins upon the continuously moving conveyor belt 10 to insure that. the doffed bobbin does not engage an incoming empty bobbinLThe switch 114, which is connected to.

a time delay mechanism of a second or two, notshown,

then signals the double acting piston 100, following the time delay, to reversably actuate and retract the piston rod 102 to retract the bobbin stop 86 andthe ramp 40. Incoming empty bobbins thenagain freely pass upon.

the continuing moving conveyor, belt 10 to the downstream sorting apparatus. As a wound bobbin proceeds downstream the butt end engages the limit switch 18 to activate the piston 26 and thereby extend the deflector plate 20 to a blocking position. The wound bobbin is' thereby diverted onto the auxiliary conveyor 14 where it engages the limit switch 30 to reversably actuate the piston 26 and retract the deflector plate 20 to the open position to allow following empty bobbins to pass about the end of the machine upon the conveyor 10. The aforementioned time delay ensures that an empty bobbin is sufficiently spaced behind a wound bobbin so that it will not follow a wound bobbin onto the auxiliary conveyor 14. As aforementioned, a circulating empty bobbin does not engage the limit switch 14 but rather rides under the crank arm 32 and continues circulating 7 upon the conveyor 10 about the spinning machine.

As aforementioned, however, the reverse arrangement may be provided wherein an empty bobbin actuates the switches 18 and 30 to move the deflector gate between the deflecting and open positions rather than a wound bobbin. In both arrangements, however, it is readily seen that the wound and empty bobbins must circulate upon the conveyor 10 in opposite orientation. That is, if empty bobbins are circulating apical end first then the wound bobbins are conveyed butt end first, and vice versav It should be apparent that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, all of which are intended to be encompassed by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for conveying wound and empty bobbins in a common path around processing stations of a textile machine comprising, conveying means defining said common path for simultaneously conveying said wound bobbins from said stations and said empty bobbins to said stations, servicing means operable to patrol around said stations and remove said wound bobbins from said stations for placement on said conveying means, gating means positioned proximate to said conveying means and movable between a first position where said gating means is operable to engage a bobbin on said conveying means and remove said bobbin therefrom and a second position where said gating means is precluded from engagement with said empty bobbins being conveyed about said stations by said conveying means and, signal means associated with said conveying means and operable to produce a signal in response to detection of a wound bobbin at a preselected locus to move said gating means to said first position to thereby move said wound bobbin form said conveying means.

2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said servicing means includes means for placing said wound bobbins upon said conveying means in a spaced apart relationship from said empty bobbins thereon.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said bobbins have apical and butt ends and said empty bobbins are aligned upon the conveyor in the same endwise orientation, and wherein said servicing means includes means for placing said wound bobbins upon said conveyor in opposing endwise orientation to said empty bobbins.

4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said signal means includes bobbin sensing means positioned to engage the butt end of a wound bobbin to produce said signal, and includes auxiliary conveying means for conveying wound bobbins away from said conveying means, further signal means associated with said auxiliary conveying means and positioned to be engaged by said wound bobbin moved onto said auxiliary conveying means to produce a further signal to move said gating means from said first position to said second position.

5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said signal means comprises a limit switch, said limit switch being positioned on a crank arm positioned to engage a bobbin being conveyed on said conveying means, said crank arm being pivotal from a first position to a second position to override said empty bobbin upon said single conveyor.

6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said bobbins have apical and butt ends andthe empty bobbins are conveyed apical end first to said stations and wherein said means for placing wound bobbins upon the conveying means includes means for placing said wound bobbins butt end first upon said conveying means in the direction to travel thereof.

7. A method of conveying wound and empty bobbins on conveying means defining a common path around a plurality of stationary strand processing stations on a textile machine where said wound and empty bobbins have butt and apical ends comprising, sequentially sensing the condition of bobbins being wound at said stations, placing bobbins having a predetermined amount of yarn wound thereon on said conveying means, concurrently conveying said empty bobbins to said stations and said wound bobbins away from said stations on said conveying means, detecting a wound bobbin on said conveying means, producing a signal in response to detection of said wound bobbin, and removing said wound bobbin from said conveying means in response to said signal.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of removing said wound bobbin comprises deflecting said wound bobbin off said conveying means in response to said signal sensing said wound bobbin following said deflecting, and producing a second signal in response to said bobbin being deflected off said conveying means.

9. A method inaccordance with claim 7 comprising conveying said empty bobbins in the same endwise orientation and placing said wound bobbins on said conveying means in opposing endwise orientation to said empty bobbins.

10. A methodin accordance with claim 9 including the step of placing said wound bobbins upon said conveying means in spaced apart relationship to said empty bobbins.

11. A method according to claim 9 including the step of placing said wound bobbins on said conveying means butt end first in the direction of travel of said conveying means. 

1. Apparatus for conveying wound and empty bobbins in a common path around processing stations of a textile machine comprising, conveying means defining said common path for simultaneously conveying said wound bobbins from said stations and said empty bobbins to said stations, servicing means operable to patrol around said stations and remove said wound bobbins from said stations for placemeNt on said conveying means, gating means positioned proximate to said conveying means and movable between a first position where said gating means is operable to engage a bobbin on said conveying means and remove said bobbin therefrom and a second position where said gating means is precluded from engagement with said empty bobbins being conveyed about said stations by said conveying means and, signal means associated with said conveying means and operable to produce a signal in response to detection of a wound bobbin at a preselected locus to move said gating means to said first position to thereby move said wound bobbin form said conveying means.
 2. Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein said servicing means includes means for placing said wound bobbins upon said conveying means in a spaced apart relationship from said empty bobbins thereon.
 3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 2 wherein said bobbins have apical and butt ends and said empty bobbins are aligned upon the conveyor in the same endwise orientation, and wherein said servicing means includes means for placing said wound bobbins upon said conveyor in opposing endwise orientation to said empty bobbins.
 4. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said signal means includes bobbin sensing means positioned to engage the butt end of a wound bobbin to produce said signal, and includes auxiliary conveying means for conveying wound bobbins away from said conveying means, further signal means associated with said auxiliary conveying means and positioned to be engaged by said wound bobbin moved onto said auxiliary conveying means to produce a further signal to move said gating means from said first position to said second position.
 5. An apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein said signal means comprises a limit switch, said limit switch being positioned on a crank arm positioned to engage a bobbin being conveyed on said conveying means, said crank arm being pivotal from a first position to a second position to override said empty bobbin upon said single conveyor.
 6. An apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein said bobbins have apical and butt ends and the empty bobbins are conveyed apical end first to said stations and wherein said means for placing wound bobbins upon the conveying means includes means for placing said wound bobbins butt end first upon said conveying means in the direction to travel thereof.
 7. A method of conveying wound and empty bobbins on conveying means defining a common path around a plurality of stationary strand processing stations on a textile machine where said wound and empty bobbins have butt and apical ends comprising, sequentially sensing the condition of bobbins being wound at said stations, placing bobbins having a predetermined amount of yarn wound thereon on said conveying means, concurrently conveying said empty bobbins to said stations and said wound bobbins away from said stations on said conveying means, detecting a wound bobbin on said conveying means, producing a signal in response to detection of said wound bobbin, and removing said wound bobbin from said conveying means in response to said signal.
 8. A method according to claim 7 wherein the step of removing said wound bobbin comprises deflecting said wound bobbin off said conveying means in response to said signal sensing said wound bobbin following said deflecting, and producing a second signal in response to said bobbin being deflected off said conveying means.
 9. A method in accordance with claim 7 comprising conveying said empty bobbins in the same endwise orientation and placing said wound bobbins on said conveying means in opposing endwise orientation to said empty bobbins.
 10. A method in accordance with claim 9 including the step of placing said wound bobbins upon said conveying means in spaced apart relationship to said empty bobbins.
 11. A method according to claim 9 including the step of placing said wound bobbins on said conveying means butt end first In the direction of travel of said conveying means. 